🗞️ A heavy heart

Good morning. We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that unfolded in Bondi yesterday.

Sending our heartfelt thoughts and support to the families affected and the Bondi community during this difficult time.

All the headlines and more below...

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

ATO, Centrelink, superannuation, Medicare: All the major money changes coming from January 1, 2026

• Over 1M Australians will receive Centrelink payment increases from 1 January due to indexation and new laws including 3 days of subsidised childcare. LINK 

• Australia’s jobless rate and housing activity remain steady while some suburbs saw the highest house value jumps in 12 months. LINK 

• Sydney and Melbourne house prices are flatlining as weak auction clearance rates and interest rate fears keep buyers on hold. LINK

• The federal government has unveiled new rules to penalise excessive grocery pricing as consumers face the steepest rise in 5 years. LINK 

• A national survey found 86% of Australians would share mobile location in Triple Zero calls, backing AI upgrades following system failures. LINK 

• The government has launched a review of the electric car discount as it saved taxpayers $1.35B and raised EV uptake to 10% of car sales. LINK 

• The proposed "right to work from home" law in Victoria is gaining momentum over workplace power imbalances in cost and time negotiations. LINK  

• Australia’s illicit tobacco trade has grown to nearly triple government estimates as $3B in illegal products were seized in 1 year. LINK  

• A mutated flu strain has triggered a rare summer surge in Australia as over 52,000 cases were recorded in November and early December. LINK

• The price of a non-alcoholic drink in Australia often matches or exceeds its alcoholic equivalent, attracting less tax and raising fairness concerns. LINK 

• The ATO plans to cut just $500,000 in outsourcing from a $4.5B budget this year as it faced criticism over weak reform in public spending. LINK 

COMPANY NEWS

ANZ makes anxious former staff wait for final pay cheques in latest HR blunder

• ANZ has delayed final bonus payments for laid-off staff until 23 December as it faces logistical processing challenges from thousands of departures. LINK

• Westpac raised fixed home loan rates by up to 0.35% as the RBA signalled a potential rate hike in 2026 whilst the lowest fixed rate now stands at 5.49%. LINK

• Zip Co emphasised its strong market position while serving 10% of Australian adults as it aims to grow through product diversity during varying economic cycles. LINK 

• REA Group and other online property platforms have lost about 25% of their value whilst fears grow that AI may change the way people search for homes. LINK 

• Boral received a $25M NSW government grant to cut coal usage by 60% at its Berrima plant as it aims to slash landfill waste by 73,000 tonnes and emissions by 1.6M tonnes annually. LINK

• Dollarama has begun transforming 401 The Reject Shop stores across Australia whilst applying its low-cost model despite forecasting no profit before FY27. LINK  

• Coles is intensifying its holiday promotion as it pushes impulse buys and anticipates strong online traffic while competing with Woolworths for growth. LINK  

CHART OF THE DAY

The countries with the best healthcare coverage

ONE MORE SCROLL

Editor’s Pick: You might not need 8 hours of rest. Here’s how to find your perfect sleep time.

Draft Pick: Major Para-sport milestones met ahead of Brisbane 2032.

Odd Pick: Drama as unqualified lawyer arrested while representing fake advocates in court.

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